Ray proposed a system using some of the best work of his predecessors and brought descriptive treatment to a new level in the late 17th century. His Methodus (London, 1703) classified 18,000 species with classes based on fruit types and subdivided by leaf and flower characters. He also introduced the family as a classification unit. His work underlaid much of Linnaeus’ philosophical approach and was the direct antecedent of Jussieu’s system.

John Ray’s Methodus included a classification accounting for 18,000 species divided into woody and herbaceous plants, monocots and dicots. His work influenced that of Linnaeus, Jussieu and many others.